NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma has put outside the student union a patio stone engraved with the name of the student suicide bomber.
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"I was just kind of horrified,” said OU football fan Jenny Clemons, who spotted the stone after OU's Red-White game April 7. "I don't think he has any business being out here.”
OU's student affairs division arranged to have the stone placed, an OU alumni affairs employee said. OU officials say families pay for such memorials but the student's father said OU offered to place the stone and never billed him.
A stone costs $150.
Joel "Joe” Henry Hinrichs III, an engineering student, died Oct. 1, 2005, when his bomb went off at a campus bench a short distance from an OU night football game.
The FBI investigated whether the student, 21, tried or intended to enter the packed stadium but reported finding no conclusive evidence.
The student's father traveled from Colorado to Oklahoma to visit with university officials after the death. Joel Hinrichs Jr. said OU's dean of students, Clarke Stroud, offered to have the stone placed.
In an e-mail, the father told The Oklahoman the dean "very kindly understood that Joel's act was one of loneliness, not of aggression, and offered to have the stone placed in the memorial courtyard; he also indicated that the wife of the university president might select a tree to be placed on campus, also in Joel III's memory.”
The father said he asked to pay for the stone and tree "but was never told anything.” He repeated his offer to the dean in an e-mail Monday after being contacted by The Oklahoman. He said, "They never sent me any indication of cost, or even that they had moved forward.”
In a statement, OU President David Boren said, "As is well known, the death of Joel Hinrichs III was an apparent suicide. A tree was not planted on the campus. Instead, the university gives the opportunity for those who desire to purchase pavers in the union courtyard for students, graduates, or friends of the university.
"Some are given to honor graduates or friends of the university and some are given as memorials. They are paid for by those who have them placed there and the proceeds go towards the upkeep of the student union. The university tries to be sensitive to all the families who have lost sons or daughters while they were students.”
Stroud said in an e-mail: "We invite all parents or members of the university family to purchase stones in the courtyard honoring friends or family members. In this case it is certainly appropriate to allow Mr. Hinrichs to honor the memory of his son who tragically died while he was a student at the university.”
The father said his son was only committing suicide. FBI agents said they do not know if the student intentionally set off the bomb on the bench as a suicide or if he also had intended to kill others elsewhere. A Norman police bomb expert has said he believes the bomb went off accidentally and that the student had further plans.
Clemons, 50, a hospital nurse, said, "I was in the stadium the day that guy blew himself up. ... I feel like ... if he'd been successful he would have killed a whole bunch of us at the football game.”
The stone is engraved "Joel H Hinrichs III” and is toward an end of the patio west of the union. Clemons said the stone is in "kind of an out-of-the way place.”
Other patio stones honor CBS anchor Katie Couric, actor James Garner and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. They were given honorary doctorate degrees when they spoke at OU.
Joel Hinrichs Jr. said he asked that his son's stone be "on the outer edge, beneath a wall, and ‘upside down' from the point of view of someone in the center of the courtyard, as it was Joel's circumstance to see and read, but not to be seen or to be read very well.”
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This is the most ignorant, stupid thing a so-called place of higher learning could do. If he was so depressed that he wanted to off himself, why does he go to the trouble of blowing himself up a few hundred feet from 85 thousand people. Hinrichs had two to three pounds of triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, in a backpack in his lap when it exploded.
A bomb expert has pointed out TATP is "the explosive of choice" in the Middle East.
According to the Oklahoman newspaper, Sgt. George Mauldin of the Norman, Okla., police department believes 21-year-old Joel Hinrichs III "accidentally blew himself up".
Only he knew what his intentions were, but at the very least I find it very irresponsible that the university decides to honor someone who blew himself up so close to so many other people who could've been hurt or killed, regardless of whether he planned his own terrorist attack, or just wanted to end his own life.
The University of Oklahoma is completely out of line, and irresponsible for taking this course of action, which at the very least is honoring suicide.
This is a bunch of crap. This is typical feel-good lets have compassion on the sick that want to blow us up. Wake up Boren, or Moron.
Typical Democrat, soak us for money and do stupid stuff like this.
I'm ashamed to be a Sooner today.
He Boren....No more $$$ from me.
This should be removed, we may have to tolerate ignorant acts of violance throughout our lifetimes but we do not have to condone them. The way I look at it the Universtiy is condoning the act. Yes I feel sorry for the guy and his family. I was at the game that night along with my son, this could have been much worse had he made it to the stadium. My guess is thousands would have perished. Prayers for his family YES a Stone to commemorate him NO
I am an OU alum that graduated in 2000. I will no longer be donating money to OU nor attending football games. It is bad enough that Boren covered up the fact that Hinrichs was a failed suicide bomber but now we have to look at a memorial for this terrorist. I hope others boycott OU as well.
This is insane. The student was a muslim convert, living with at least one paki roommate, and committed suicide terrorist-style. It's bad enough that they had to cover all this up, the fact that he probably had grand plans to be another 'martyr" for the jihadi cause, but now they feel obligated to reward this insanity with a memorial? Does Tim McVeigh get a memorial at the Murrah site next? Do these leftwing idiots believe that rewarding terror will stop the next attempt?
As an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma I am truly embarrassed by the lack of judgment Clarke Stroud has shown. Hinrichs' intentions that evening could not have been anymore obvious. Remove that blemish from our beautiful campus immediately!!!
When I found out that OU has placed a memorial to a suicide bomber on OU's campus (and paying for it!!) I was shocked! As an OU alumnus I am appalled that we could honor someone who committed suicide on our campus, especially when there are reports that the bomber tried to enter the stadium and potentially take people down with him. Reports have indicated that the bomb went off "accidently"... so there is no telling what his actual intentions were. As someone who was in the OU stadium that day I cannot believe that OU would honor such an act. Suicide should never be honored. I think the memorial should be removed immediately!
This act by the University should be a disgrace to all OU students, faculty, alumni, fans, and those who attended the game that night. This is just the attention killers like this do NOT deserve, yet we keep giving this kind of attention to killers across the nation (e.g., Va. Tech killer). While I feel very sorry for the family of Hinrichs for losing their loved one in such an awful way, this takes that sympathy way too far. We should all be thankful that he did not make it into that stadium, but instead killed only himself in a blatant act of selfishness and stupidity. Acts such as this should never be honored.
I don't care what the FBI or anyone else thinks was on this individual's mind, but when you strap explosives onto your body and have a triggering device attached, you intend to do someone or something harm. But for the grace of God was no one other than himself injured. Such a memorial should be dedicated to someone who does things which are intended to be good not evil.
My 5 year old Grandson was at the stadium that night attending his very first OU football game. He was also seated in the NW corner nearest the explosion. How sad would it have been for someone like him to have been killed.
Let's not pretend we don't know what this guy intended to do. He left hate filled messages in his apartment. This is INSANE!!! Remove the stone. Boren can mount it in his office.
I usually don't comment on items such as this....hoping that more thought goes into these things and smarter heads will prevail.....I admit I was wrong. I was at the stadium this person (and I use the term lightly) blew himself up after trying to gain entrance into the stadium. We (my wife and I) felt the explosion first....then heard it. When I found out what happened I was VERY glad this person did not gain entry and possibly kill tens of thousands of people with his apparent cry for help. This person was nothing more than a coward that deserved to have his remains washed off of the sidewalk. That should be his memorial.
Forgive me if I seem cold but I have absolutely no (I repeat NO) sympathy for this person and as far as I am concerened his name should never be memorialized in this way...or any other way for that matter. I know that some may say....what about his parents? Well, again I am sorry...but I have no sympathy (and yes I do have children).
I will be surprised if this "memorial" lasts the week without being defaced or destroyed in some fashion. Again, while I am not usually in favor of such things....I can see this happening due to the complete lunacy of allowing this scum of the earth's name to be set in stone at the great University of Oklahoma. I am all for PC....but there has to be a limit.
It sounds to me like this guy was intentionally going to try and hurt/kill more people than himself, even though he didnt it still doesnt change the fact of what he did and how. I am all for honoring people that you love... but to place this stone on a campus - the one the event actually took place on is crazy!! I am a christian and I am not judging this person at all - what he did is between him and God. I think this is leaving a door wide open for others to do the same thing for attention -- in hopes that they might be more noticed... we have enough trouble in the school system now without this type of recogonition, we dont need any more people thinking its OK to set off bombs on a campus. Also if I were the parent of this boy I would not want this type of controvery over the issue. I think I would ask that the stone be taken out and I would remember him in the way that I knew him the past and would not want to focus on his final day.
I think you must divide those who should be honored and those of question. If I wanted to pay to have Hitler's name to a stone, don't you think someone might not agree? If there is a question as to his intentions on hurting someone else, then the name should not be allowed. The FBI said they aren't sure. Isn't that enough?
It sounds to me like we're starting to glorify suicide. That's extremely scary for all the depressed individuals out there who are not getting attention while alive.
I have been told by many individuals that universities are the most liberal entities that you will ever find and I think this lends credence to that comment.
The comments by Boren and the other OU persons reeks of a Tillman & Lynch type cover-up, i.e. lets not rock the boat with the truth!
Information / comments from OU personnel and the media;
1. This individual was turned away from entering the OU stadium 2 to 3 times before he accidentally blew himself up??
2. This is on video??
3. How many people in this or any other country would commit sucide by detonation without the intent of injuring or killing others?
So let's point out / celebrate the fact that an individual created such fear on a university campus!
No one knows whether he intended to kill just himself or kill/harm others too. But aren't bombs designed to inflict maximum harm on their surroundings? If the father wants a memorial stone, it should be placed elsewhere.
I condemn him for his act of violence against himself and others and so does god! The punishment for suicide is damnation, regardless of how guilty or sorry we feel for the person to commit the act of suicide. So he was alone and depressed, no one understood him. Many people students feel this way, but they overcome and preserver, honor that, reward them for fighting the struggle to find their place in life. I hope someone pull up that insult to all Oklahomans and break it. Heck we should go ahead and honor the shooter at Virginia Tech. I mean he did kill himself too, and he did fell depressed and alone. Boren and Clark should be ashamed for honoring someone who is burning in Hell.
I guess as long as the bomb did not kill any innocent victims it’s all good! I guess it can give the suicide person a thought of being forever immortalized in stone at OU. What an honor, and a perk to attempted MURDER, and CREATING AND DEATONEATING AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, if alive he would be in prison. Students should protest!!!
Borens true colors? With all he has done to further our university to internation standards? Bringing in the best and the brightest to educate us? Boren has nothing but good intention for all things concerned with OU, be it students, faculty or football fans. I may not agree with his decision on this matter but to I trust him to do what is best for the OU community.
I hope my comment can find a middle ground in all this pro and con slinging. OU as a university is one that does things well.
With David Boren at the helm OU has progressed in foward thinking ways and including this lonely person is a way to say " We care about all people"
Yes the man made a mistake by blowing himself up and I wish that all people were capable of being approachable so that no one ever felt disconnected to any part of society.
Since we are not there yet as a race of being than we will always have conflicts even on a Grand Old University as OU.
I hope we can go from Saying " I DONT CARE" to the statement " My friend is looking kinda sad so I guess I better ask "Whats wrong ? "
You have the right to disagree or agree with me on my thoughts because we live in a country where people are brave enough to go against the flow of lemmings.
Sincerly
Mr. Keith W. Kemp
Formerly of OKC but still an Okie till my last breath.
What a complete absence of judgement!!!....from Clark Stroud for the hidious, ridiculous offer to the parent, to David Boren for defending the placement!
This is such a pornographic insult to the safety of OU patrons! Well over 80,000 people are on campus to watch, work and take part in the comraderie of what is OU football. To think of the mortality, morbidity and physical injury of people that could have occured if that bomb had gone off in the stadium that bomber had tried to enter is just outrageous!
Does anybody really believe he intended to blow himself up on a bench by himself? I don't think OU does either, or they would not have levelled the apartments the boy and his friends had lived in.
TAKE THE STONE OUT!!!!!
There have been other suicides at OU but none of them honored by the University. Why now???
Glynnda- You are obviously a sweet and kind-hearted person who cares for people who are hurting and need help. Unfortunately, someone mentally deranged or religiously militant enough to plan a suicide bombing would be just as willing to kill you as to kill me.
UNBELIEVEABLE! I don't care if he WAS a lonely suicide bomber and had no intention of carrying out anything further. The point is that he detonated a BOMB. This selfish, cowardly act would have taken out any other innocent person had they been near that bench. The University of Oklahoma has made a very foolish decision in awarding a SUICIDE-BOMBER a memorial.
In light of the recent event at Virginia Tech, I sure hope the national media does not get wind of this story. How can you basically justify the honoring of this individual? What was his true contribution to the university? None, yet he created a great deal of expense to the university, local and federal law enforcement agencies when they had to manage this event, the clean up, and the overall investigation. If his father wants to foot the bill on something let him pay for a portion of these damages and expenses. The concept of suicide with a bomb is not usually an arrangement that is designed to eliminate just the bomber but bystanders as well. For whatever reasons and forunately for those of us at the game that evening his plans failed or he just simply backed out. If one bystander would have been killed or injured that evening would this stone and perhaps tree still be put in place at this site? The stone should be removed and sent to his father.
I am that fool, Julie. I think the stone should be left as a reminder for people to reach out to one-another.
PS We really don't know what his intentions were but with todays media frenzy we are becoming paranoid and everyone is a terrorist!
There are two differences between Joel Hinrichs III and Timothy McVeigh:
(1) Hinrichs' attempt at mass murder failed while McVeigh's did not;
(2) Hinrichs has a memorial stone erected by OU officials, while there is no chair at the Oklahoma City National Memorial for McVeigh.
It is a Christian principle to care for the weak and defend the defenseless. It is not a Christian principle to tolerate concealed hate and attempted violence. It is true that Hinrichs only killed himself. It is also true that he was equipped to kill many others. In Israel, Hinrichs would be classified as a failed suicide bomber.
And yet, Hinrichs is honored by OU officials, right up there with Katie Couric, James Garner, and Margaret Thatcher.
Sorry, OU fans, but I have no intention of being "sensitive" toward someone who tried to kill some of you.
This young, sad man was a TERRORIST. Anyone who doesn't want to believe that is being a fool. Either, he couldn't get in to the stadium because security was searching bags and he had second thoughts, or the bomb went off prematurely. Honoring the memory of his act is the equivalent of playing the Virginia Tech terrorist video on the news over and over: it encourages disturbed individuals to emulate him. What is the OU Administration thinking?!?
Americans in particular seem to discount an individual's entire life and focus on a singular event. This boy may or may not have planned to kill others, we don't know. He was a studet, and obviously emotionally disturbed. This is a non-event, I'm more upset as a taxpayer to see a stone for Katie Couric! Who is she but some celebrity, not even a decent interviewer. Supposedly Oklahoma is full of very religious people who are supposedly very forgiving and caring for their fellow human beings. So why don't these very righteous people let this boy lie in peace.
My question to myself, is why did'nt he blow himself up somewhere else if he JUST wanted to kill himself? That is the big question. But we will never really know his intensions. Stone should be taken out. It would be to eerie to me to see it there while all this trouble that is happening these days at the school shootings.
The name of a student suicide bomber Joel H. Hinrichs III is engraved on a patio stone outside Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. BY Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
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President Boren's statement 04/26/2007 University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren
April 26, 2006
I am deeply disappointed by a media report that could lead to the revival of unfounded...
37
A bomb expert has pointed out TATP is "the explosive of choice" in the Middle East.
According to the Oklahoman newspaper, Sgt. George Mauldin of the Norman, Okla., police department believes 21-year-old Joel Hinrichs III "accidentally blew himself up".
Only he knew what his intentions were, but at the very least I find it very irresponsible that the university decides to honor someone who blew himself up so close to so many other people who could've been hurt or killed, regardless of whether he planned his own terrorist attack, or just wanted to end his own life.
The University of Oklahoma is completely out of line, and irresponsible for taking this course of action, which at the very least is honoring suicide.
Typical Democrat, soak us for money and do stupid stuff like this.
I'm ashamed to be a Sooner today.
He Boren....No more $$$ from me.
Let's not pretend we don't know what this guy intended to do. He left hate filled messages in his apartment. This is INSANE!!! Remove the stone. Boren can mount it in his office.
Forgive me if I seem cold but I have absolutely no (I repeat NO) sympathy for this person and as far as I am concerened his name should never be memorialized in this way...or any other way for that matter. I know that some may say....what about his parents? Well, again I am sorry...but I have no sympathy (and yes I do have children).
I will be surprised if this "memorial" lasts the week without being defaced or destroyed in some fashion. Again, while I am not usually in favor of such things....I can see this happening due to the complete lunacy of allowing this scum of the earth's name to be set in stone at the great University of Oklahoma. I am all for PC....but there has to be a limit.
The comments by Boren and the other OU persons reeks of a Tillman & Lynch type cover-up, i.e. lets not rock the boat with the truth!
Information / comments from OU personnel and the media;
1. This individual was turned away from entering the OU stadium 2 to 3 times before he accidentally blew himself up??
2. This is on video??
3. How many people in this or any other country would commit sucide by detonation without the intent of injuring or killing others?
So let's point out / celebrate the fact that an individual created such fear on a university campus!
I guess as long as the bomb did not kill any innocent victims it’s all good! I guess it can give the suicide person a thought of being forever immortalized in stone at OU. What an honor, and a perk to attempted MURDER, and CREATING AND DEATONEATING AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, if alive he would be in prison. Students should protest!!!
Please.
With David Boren at the helm OU has progressed in foward thinking ways and including this lonely person is a way to say " We care about all people"
Yes the man made a mistake by blowing himself up and I wish that all people were capable of being approachable so that no one ever felt disconnected to any part of society.
Since we are not there yet as a race of being than we will always have conflicts even on a Grand Old University as OU.
I hope we can go from Saying " I DONT CARE" to the statement " My friend is looking kinda sad so I guess I better ask "Whats wrong ? "
You have the right to disagree or agree with me on my thoughts because we live in a country where people are brave enough to go against the flow of lemmings.
Sincerly
Mr. Keith W. Kemp
Formerly of OKC but still an Okie till my last breath.
This is such a pornographic insult to the safety of OU patrons! Well over 80,000 people are on campus to watch, work and take part in the comraderie of what is OU football. To think of the mortality, morbidity and physical injury of people that could have occured if that bomb had gone off in the stadium that bomber had tried to enter is just outrageous!
Does anybody really believe he intended to blow himself up on a bench by himself? I don't think OU does either, or they would not have levelled the apartments the boy and his friends had lived in.
TAKE THE STONE OUT!!!!!
There have been other suicides at OU but none of them honored by the University. Why now???
PS We really don't know what his intentions were but with todays media frenzy we are becoming paranoid and everyone is a terrorist!
(1) Hinrichs' attempt at mass murder failed while McVeigh's did not;
(2) Hinrichs has a memorial stone erected by OU officials, while there is no chair at the Oklahoma City National Memorial for McVeigh.
It is a Christian principle to care for the weak and defend the defenseless. It is not a Christian principle to tolerate concealed hate and attempted violence. It is true that Hinrichs only killed himself. It is also true that he was equipped to kill many others. In Israel, Hinrichs would be classified as a failed suicide bomber.
And yet, Hinrichs is honored by OU officials, right up there with Katie Couric, James Garner, and Margaret Thatcher.
Sorry, OU fans, but I have no intention of being "sensitive" toward someone who tried to kill some of you.